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Faculty and students in the School of Dental Medicine will provide free oral health screenings, fluoride treatments and oral hygiene education to local preschoolers and elementary school children during Give Kids A Smile (GKAS) day on Feb. 6.

The 25th annual event will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Squire and Harriman halls on the South Campus.

Sponsored by the American Dental Association and held each year on the first Friday in February, GKAS kicks off National Children’s Dental Health Month by providing oral health treatments to underserved children and teaching them the correct way to brush and floss their teeth. Colvin Cleaners is serving as the local sponsor of this year’s event.

Launched nationally in 2003, the program has impacted more than 9 million children nationwide, including thousands in Western New York.

“Give Kids A Smile highlights the importance of prevention, education and access to quality oral health care starting at a young age,” says Brett Chiquet, professor and chair of the Department of Pediatric and Community Dentistry. “It’s our opportunity to provide the children here in our own community with a good foundation for oral health while showing them that a visit to the dentist can be fun, too.”

Participating children will receive X-rays, fluoride treatments, checkups and cleanings. They also will get to enjoy hands-on educational activities, such as brushing demonstrations with puppets, flossing simulations with Play-Doh and Legos, and the opportunity to dress up like a dentist.

A student DJ will entertain the visitors, and lunch will be provided.

At the end of the morning activities, children who have a parent present may stay for free operative care, including fillings and extractions.